BERLIN, April 19, 2009 (AFP) – Germany’s former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, who retired in 2007, could be set to return to competitive cycling as a team advisor, it was revealed on Sunday.

Ullrich’s former Team Telekom team-mate Danilo Hondo, who is currently competing in the Tour of Turkey for Czech team PSK Whirpool, told German tabloid Bild he wants to create a new cycling team and Ullrich would play a role.

“Jan is always a subject (which one talks about when discussing cycling), we have talked about it,” Germany’s Hondo told Bild.

Hondo says the team would mainly consist of German riders and could be ready as early as next year.

“This team would include German racers and sponsors. Jan is always a magnet which could make things move things,” said Hondo.

In 1997, Ullrich, 35, became the first German to win the Tour de France, but was banned from the Tour in 2006 amidst allegations of doping and announced his retirement from cycling in February 2007.